These cancer cells are on the march: They are migrating away from the human breast cancer tissue where they originated, in search of other tissues to invade. Cell biologist and engineer Matthew Kutys, PhD, and his team harness organoids – living tissues derived from patient tumors – to study how cancer spreads. The striking images they capture show how cells’ own mechanisms of locomotion are hijacked to enable metastasis.

Kutys, an assistant professor in the School of Dentistry, explains how his “human organ on a chip” technology is leading to new knowledge about cancer, infectious diseases, and organ development. Video by the UCSF School of Dentistry.
Cover of UCSF Magazine: top reads “UCSF Magazine, Winter 2024”. Text below reads “The Road to Rejuvenation: Can science slow aging?” Illustration shows strips of a woman's face. From left to right, each strip shows that the woman has visibly aged.

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